Combined amplifying and rectifying system



y, 936.1 MAKouD 7 2 047,819,

I COMBINED AMPLIFYING AND RECTIFYING SYSTEM Filed July 1, 1933 INVENITORMIC/ml Ndakjoual BY M "AT RNEYG.

Patented July This inventionrrelates to apparatus for amplii'ying andrectifying alternating, oscillating, and variable currents independentlyand in combina-'- '-tion, and is particularly adapted for use in con-'Junction with radiant energy systems and for adapting such' systems tooperate from power supply circuits generally used for houselightingpurposes which may supply either direct, pulsatinggoralternating currents. I

The invention involves the provision of amplifying and rectify gapparatus either independent ofeach other or combined for employing andoperating a translating device operating as a rectifier, an amplifier,oran: oscillator, "and the' lik v The invention further comprehends theprovision of circuit means for operation in conjunction with properlyconstructed electron discharge 7 devices to amplify and rectify'varyingcurrents offdifierent frequencies, such as are common to thetransmissionof intelligence by radiant energy, the reception and reproductionthereof, or

the rectification of varying or oscillating cur-.

rents 'used' for power purposes in order to convert such currents foruse in any desired-manner; together with means for controlling thepotentialand other characteristics of'the transformed current and, whendesired, applying them to the electrodes of theelectron' dischargedevices. These and many other objects as will appear from the followingdetailed disclosure are secured by means of this invention.

This'invention residessubstantially in thecom- I bination, construction;arrangement, relative location or parts, and circuital connections, allas willjbe described below.

application is a continuation ,in part of mycopending application SerialNo. 120,376, filed ,July 3, 1926, Patent No. 1,920,576, August 1,1933.

Referring to the drawing- Figure 1is a diagrammatic illustration of theassociation of apparatus in accordance with this invention as appliedfor purposes of illustration and trated 'by'way of example, asa tuned,grounded f antenna system having the primary 1 of acou-;pling"tr'ansfonner inductively coupled to its secondary 2. One terminalof the secondary is coni aware I, I j oorlmmanmmryme mmn'ctm'rmd MichelMacksoud, St. Albans, N. Y., assignor to U The Electron Corporation,East Orange; N. 3.,

g a corporation New Jersey Q I j- Application July 1, i933, serial-No.678,660

20 Claims. (Cl. 2so- -27) made of, a suitable resistance wire inaccordance shunted by the by-pass condenser 3| and'the wire through thefeed-back winding 42, primary .31,

PATENT ,oFFl

nected to the grid 1 of the electron discharge device and its otherterminal is connected by wire II to the cathode circuit through wireiii, a portion of the potentiometer i5 and wire I 4. This input circuitis provided with a variable con'- 5 denser} by means of which it may betuned to desired frequencies. The electron discharged is provided withacathode sleeve 8 of the equipotential type which isprovided, inaccordance I with the usual practice, with apsuitable electron 1oemissive coating. Disposed within the cathode sleeve is the'heaterelement 9 which is shown as divided'into two portions oppositely woundto provide a non-inductive heater. Numerous other methods of windingfilaments non-inductively may be formed. I I

M H) is the plate anode connected in'the output circuit as will bedescribed. In a similar way there is provided the electron dischargedevices 5 and 6, each of which has a grid 1, cathode sleeve 5 8, heater5, and anode ID. All of the heaters-9, are illustrated asnon-inductively wound and are with wellknown principles, which maybeeither: electronically emissive by reason of the nature thereof, or. maybe coated in accordance with well known practice with a suitableemitting coating. The heaters 9 are proportioned and designed for directconnectionto a Lilo-volt direct or altemating current lighting circuitby means pi the wires i9 and 20, 2| and "22, and 23 and 24. As shown.these heaters are connected in parallel but may, upon proper design, beconnected :5 in series for direct operation from a 110-volt oralternating current lighting circuit.

Connected across the leads l9 and 20 is a potentiometer 25 shunted by aby-pass condenser asshown. An adjustable tap is connected by wire 26through the choke coils 21 and 28 to the output circuits of the vacuumtubes. Thus the plate anode ID of the tube 6 is connected to wire 26through the sound reproducing device 29 32, The-output electrode iii oftube 4 is con nected through the primary "of a coupling transformer andby wires 38 and 38 to wire 26.

Likewise plate anode III of tube 5 is connected and a couplingtransformer, and wire 38 to wire 26.

I The secondary "inductively coupled with the primary I5 isconnectedatone terminal through the usual gridleak systemfl'to the grid 1 of the 5stube s. The stems of the winding nu connected by wireii to the wire II.The feedback coil 42 is inductively coupled with the wind ing40andisshuntedbyatuningcondenserl! in accordance with the known practice.The primary 36 and secondary 44 are interconnected by means of avariable condenser 44 for the purpose ofproviding agrid biasforthegridloftube I. The connection ofv this grid to the output circuit of thepreceding tube through the variable condenser 45 provides a convenientand suitable grid biasing arrangement. The value of the bias will ofcourse, depend upon the values of the grid leak system 4i, which may beadjustable in value if desired. The primary I1 is shunted by a bypasscondenser 39 and is inductively coupled with the secondary 44, oneterminal of which is connected to grid of tube, 8. The. other terminalof secondary 44 is connected by wire "to wire i I.

It will be noted that all of the grids I are connected through thecommon wire ll, wire it, and potentiometer I! to their respectivecathode sleeves 8. The transformer comprising the windings 3! and 44 isshown as an iron core trans-- former in accordance with the usualpractice since thetubeiisarectiiyingtube andthetube lisanaudioamplifier. windings 31 and 44 are interconnected by a variable condenser4! to provide, as before, a suitable grid bias for the grid of tube 4from the plate circuit of tube 5. However grids I are biased withrespect to their cathodes by having their respective returns made to theresistance I! by means of connection I! which is at a lower resistancethan any potential at 8, by means of the potential voltage drop of II.

The condensers 33, in conjunction with the.

choke coils 21 and 28, provide a filter-for a' purpose to be described.These condensers are connected by wire 34 to wires II and II.

With this arrangment alternating currents, such as represented by aradio signal, are amplified at radio frequency, rectified, and amplifiedat audio frequency. As illustrated, two of these tubes likewise providefor themselves the necessary operating potentials and for the third tubeas well. Thus the tubes 4 and I are soconnected as to provide a fullwave rectifier energized from the heater circuit, the rectified currentbeing applied to the plates thereof and to the plate of the tube 6. Inaddition provision is made for the necessary bias on the variouselectrodes. Thus each of the tubes 4 and l comprise half wave rectifiersof alternatieng currents, the outputs of which are combined in asuitable filter system to provide full wave rectification and hencenecessary direct current potentials for the anoda. The heaters 9, inconjunction with the sleeves l of the tubes 4 and 5, provide half waverectifiers in which the heaters 9 are the cathodes and the sleeves 4 arethe anodes. The sleeves 8 are at positive potentialwith respect to theheaters through the connection l4, potentiometer l5, wires l8 and 14,wire 26 and back through potentiometer 25 to the circuit l9 20.

The wires 34 and 26 provide the output circuit for the full waverectifier provided by these tubes, in which circuit is included thefilter system comprising the condensers 33 and the choke coils 21 and28. This system is provided for the purpose of smoothing out any ripplesand variations in the rectified current. The rectified current is thenimpressed upon the anodes Ill through the wire 26 to render thempositive and the return circuit for these anodes to the cathodes 8 isprovided-through the wires 44, ll, potentiometer II, and wires M, II andl'l.

Inallofthetubes l,l,andlincarrying.on their usual amplifying andrectifying operations for the radio signal, the sleeve I is the cathodethereof to supply electrons for the anodes ll which'are controlled bythe grids I. It will be noted that the tubes 4 and I as connected notonly providethe necessary direct current potentials for the plates, butlikewise provide the direct 10 current potential for the plate of tube Iwhich is not part of the rectifying system.

As described above, the grid bias potentials for tubes I and 4 areprovided from the plate cir-' cuits of the preceding tubes through theagency of the connection through the condensers 4!. However, the gridbias potentials may be derived from connection II which is at lowerpotential than any of the cathodes 8 in the circuit, by means of theresistance voltage drop in ii.

Grid l'of tube 4 is given the necessary negative bias with respect toits cathode 8 through the potentiometer It. The anodes it are likewisederived through necessary potentials directly from the relatively hi hvoltage filament circuitswhich are energized from 110 or even, ifproperly designed, 220-volt direct or alternating current lightingcircuit. This plate voltage is provided by the voltage drop through thefilament circuits which would be of the order of 20 volts, thusproviding a potential for the plates of the order of 90 volts when theheaters are energized by 110 volts.

The principles of this invention have been shown applied to a push-pullamplifier which, in

addition, is connected to rectify and provide its own plate potentialsand, in addition, the necessary potentials for any additional.associated equipment employing electron discharge devices and the like.-The input is impressed upon the primary of an amplifying transformerhaving 40 a secondary II. The terminals of this secondary are connectedto the grids I3 and of the electron discharge devices 52 and 54,respectively. These devices include. equi-potential cathode sleeves l8and 51 which are coated with a suitable 5 electron emitting coating.Each sleeve is heated by an indirectly reversely wound non-inductive, I

heater BI and 62, respectively. These heaters are respectively connectedacross the secondaries ll and 84 of a transformer and are proportionedto so supply any suitable voltage thereto.

At 45 is a third secondary which, together with the secondaries 43 and64 are inductively coupled with the primary circuit 88 to be energizedfrom a power supply circuit as described before. The 65 sleeves l6 and51 are connected together by a wire 58 and then by a common wire llthrough a suitable grid leak system 00 to an adjustable tap connectionof secondary ii. The ends of the secondary u are connected by adjustablemid- 60 point taps 'to the secondaries l3 and 44. The plate anodes t1and II are connected to the terminals of the primary II and the outputtransformer, the secondary 10 of which is connected to any device to beenergized therefrom. An adjustable midpoint tap connection of secondary85 is connected by wire H through a choke coil 12 to a midpointadjustable tap connection on primary 69. Both sleeves 58 and 51 areconnected by wire 13 to a wire marked C-. Wires II and 13 are bridged bycondensers 14 which, in connection with the choke coil 12, provide asuitable filter circuit. Wires H and 13 are also shunted by a suitableresistance 15 to provide a potentiometer having adjustable tap connec-76 {it will be again apparentthat the tubes 52 and M g are connectedtogether to provide theusual pushpull amplifier for amplifying signalenergyand (are also connected together to provide "a mu wave rectifierwhich applies the operating potenfor themselves. v edthrou n the wires.c- 13-, 3+ and 3+ the necessaryconnections for providing the poitentials for any other devices to be operated in {conjunction withtheamplifler, such as additional {electron discharge devicesassociatedin the 'circults thereof in accordance with many well'known.

In addition, thereis procircuit practices.

, Theprinciple of employing the combined amplifying and rectifying tubesfor supplyin g oper- --ating potentials to other equipment as well' astheir own operating potentials is not confined to the "circuit of Figure2. The circuit combination of l igure 1 is capable of and actually.operates for the same purpose. In the circuit of Figure 1,

, all three-of the tubes illustrated have both amplifying and rectifyingfunctions. However, the circuit is equally operable and within the scopeof this invention if some of the tubeshave' amy piifying functions only.The circuit connections, as illustrated in Figural, are such thatifionly one or" two of the tubes have rectifying functions in addition.to their amplifying functions the operating potentials will be suppliednot only to: themselves but for the-1 other tubesof the 'circuit.

. Indeed, in practice this condition will invariably st.

arise. Since the heaters 9 are sources of. elec-' trons which flow tothe anodes 8 of the rectifiers, Jitwill be apparent that as the heaters'agethey will, lose their electron emitting properties to differentdegrees and might in some cases for all juseful effects entirely losetheir electron emitting properties withoutlosing their functlonofheatingthe sleeves 8 to supply electrons for the anode 10. In this case,it is apparent that the necessary operating potentials for those tubeswhose re'ctifying properties have become impaired will besupplied fromthe rectiflers of the other tubes by reason of' the circuit connectionsemployed.

7 f From the above'description it will be apparent I have provided a newand novel'invention which may be embodied in many physical forms and inmany circuit associations without depar "ture from the' principles andscope thereof. I i do' not, therefore, desireto be strictly limited to 7the: disclosure as given for purposes ofillustra- 51mm; but rather tothe scope or he appended claims.

' what I seek to secure by United States Letters 5 patent is:

a The ombination asydescribed eomp i three audions each 'having a grid,a cathode emitter and a plate, means for coupling said audions Itogether to provide a cascaded radio frequency ampliflendetector andaudio frequency amplifier, {heaters for said cathode emitters, a circuitfor energizing said heaters, a resistance connected 5 between two ofsaid cathode emitters, a resistance 2! connected across thecircuit forenergizing the heaters, and connections'from said resistances to j t egrids and anodes of said audions to provide 7 operating potentials. 2.The combination as described comprising three audions each having agrid, a cathode emit- 'ter and a plate, means for coupling said audionsI together'to provide a'cascaded radiofrequency amplifier, detector andaudio frequency amplifier,

' direct or alternating current, and connections between two of saidcathode emitters, a resistance connected across the circuit forenergizing I the heaters, connectionsfrorn saidresistances to the gridsand anodes of said audions to provide operating potentials, and a filtercircuit in said connections. a c

3. In an amplifying and full wave rectifying system the combinationcomprising a pair of 10 audions each having a grid, a cathode emitter I)and a plate, an input circuit connected to said grids, an output circuitconnected to said plates, a connection between said cathode emitters andsaid input circuit, heaters for said cathode emite ters, means forenergizing said heaters, aconnection from said means to the outputcircuit, a connection from the cathode emitters, and a potentiometerhaving a plurality of variable taps connected betweensaid connection andthe. con'-' nection between said means and theoutput circuit. 1 I i Y 4.In an amplifying and full wave rectifying system the combinationcomprising av pair of audions each having a grid, a cathode emitter andan anode,.means for connecting said audions'to 'provide an amplifier,heaters for said cathode.-

5. In an apparatus as described the combina- 'tion comprising twoaudions each having a grid, a cathode emitter and a plate, inputcircuits connected to said grids, output circuits con- ,nected to saidplates, heaters for said cathode emitters, circuits for energizing saidheaters, an impedance connected between said emitters, an impedanceconnected across said energizing oir-g cuit, and connections betweensaid impedances said said grids and plates to provide operatingpotentials therefor.

6. Anamplifying circuitas described including a pair of audions eachhaving cathode, grid and anode elements, an input circuit and an output.circuit for each audion including the grid and I anode electrodesrespectively, heaters for said cathodes, a resistance connected acrosssaid heaters having a variable connection, means for energizingsaid-heaters with direct or alternating current, the anodeoperating potentials being provided by the voltage drop in the electronstream between said variable connection and the cathodes. T7. In acircuit as described an audion having a grid, a plate and a cathode,input and output circuits connected to said grid and plate respectively,a heater for, said cathode, a resistance shunted across the heaterhaving a variable tap. a circuit for energizing said heater with eitherfrom said plate circuit and heater circuit for supplying operatingpotentials for said anode equal to the potential appliedto' said heaterminus the voltage drop in the electron stream between 'said tap and thecathode.

" 8..I n an' amplifying system, the combination comprising two audionseach having a grid, a plat'e and a cathode, a heater for each cathode,an input circuit for each audion including its grid-an output circuitfor each audion including its plate, the output circuit of one audionbeing coupled to the input circuit of the other audion, aresistanceconnected between-said cathodes, and connections betweensaidresistance and the input circuits.

9. In a combined rectifying and amplifying system, the combinationcomprising two audions each having a grid, a cathode, a plate, and aheater, a circuit for energizing said heaters from either direct oralternating current, an impedance connected between said cathodes, animpedance connected in said heater circuit, a filter connected betweensaid impedances, an input circuit for each audion including its grid, anoutput circult for each audion including its plate, the output circuitof one audion being coupled to the input circuit of the other audion,and connections from the output circuits to the filter whereby operatingpotentials for the plates are supplied.

10. In a circuit as described the combination including an audion havingcathode means, a grid and an anode, an input circuit connected betweensaid cathode means and grid, an output circuit connected between saidcathode means and anode, a heater adapted to be energized by electriccurrent for activating said cathode means, means including connectionsbetween the heater and the cathode means for supplying operatingpotentials for the input and output circuits, a second audion havinginput and output circuits, and connections from said means for supplyingoperating potentials for its input and output circuits. 11. In a circuitas described the combination including an audion having cathode means, agrid and an anode, an input circuit connected between said cathode meansand grid, an output circuit connected between said cathode means andanode, a heater adapted to be energized by electric current foractivating said cathode means, means including connections between theheater and the cathode means for supplying operating potentials for theinput and output circuits, a second audion having cathode means and gridand anode electrodes, input and output circuits including said grid andanode respectively, said second audion being operatively associated withthe first mentioned audion, and connections from said means forsupplying grid and anode operating potentials for the second audion.

12. In an amplifying and full wave rectifying system the combinationcomprising two audions each having a grid, a plate and a cathodeemitter,

aheater for each emitter, an input circuit for each audion including itsgrid and emitter, an output circuit for each audion including its plateand emitter, connections to said heaters for energizing them withalternating current, means including connections between the heaters andcathode emitters ofvsaid audions to provide full wave rectification foralternating current operation and connections between said plates andsaid means to impress operating potentials on said plates.

13. In an amplifying and full wave rectifying system the combinationcomprising two audions each having a grid, a plate and a cathodeemitter, a heater for each emitter, an input circuit for each audionincluding its grid and emitter, an output circuit for each audionincluding its plate and emitter, means. for coupling the output circuitof one audion to the input circuitofthe other audion, connections .tosaid" heaters for energizingthem with direct or alterter, a heater foreach emitte acme-r6 nating current, means including connectionsbeergizing them with direct or alternating current, means to providefull wave rectification for al- 15 ternating current operation andcontinuous conductivity for direct current operation includingconnections between the heaters and cathode emitters of said audions,and connections from said means to said plates to impress operating 20potentials on said plates for either direct or 'alternating currentoperation.

15. In an amplifying and full wave rectifying system the combinationcomprising two audions each having a grid, a plate and a cathodeemitter, 25

a heater ior each emitter, an input circuit for each audion includingits grid ande'n'iitter, an output circuit for each audion including itsplate andemitter. means for coupling said audions to form a cascadeamplifier, connections to said 30 I I heaters for energizing them withdirect or alternating current, means to provide iull wave rectificationfor alternating current operation and continuous conductivity for directcurrent operation including connections between the 36 heaters andcathode emitters of said audions, and connections from said means tosaid plates to impress operating potentials on said plates for eitherdirect or alternating current operation.

16. In an amplifying and full wave rectifying system the combinationcomprising two audions each having a grid, a plate and a cathodeemitter, a heater for each emitter, an input circuit for each audionincluding its grid and emitter, an output circuit for each audionincluding its plate and emitter, connections to said heaters forenergizing them with direct or alternatingcurrent, meansincludingconnections between the heaters and cathode emitters of said audions toprovide full wave rectification for alternating 50 current operation,and connections between said grids and said means to impress operatingpotentials on said grids. I

17. In an amplifying and full wave rectifying system the combinationcomprising two audions 55 each having a grid, a plate and a cathodeemitter, a'heater for each emitter, an input circuit for each audionincluding its grid and emitter, an output circuit for audion includingits plate and emitter. means for coupling the output cirso cult of oneaudion to the input circuitoithe '11 other audion, connections togaimheatersior energizing them. with direct of alternating current,means including connections between the heatersand cathode emitters ofsaid audions to 55 provide full wave rectification for alternatingcurrent operation, and connections between said grids and said means toimpress operating po-- tentials on said grids. v

18. In an amplifyingand full wave rectifying 70 system the combinationcomprising two audions each-having a grid, a plate and a cathodeemitter. a heater-for each emitter, an input circuit for each audionincluding its grid and emitter, an

output circuit for each audion its plate connectionstosaidlheatersforena to provide them with direct or'ialternating current,

wave rectificaticn; for alcurrent operation and continuous conductivityfor direct current operation including connectionsbetween the heatersand cathode emitters of said ,audionaand Aconnectionsirom said to saidgrids to impress operating a y potentials on said grids for'eitherdirect or alter- -10 nating' lcurr'ent operation. a 19.;In an amplifyingandfull wave rectifying system'the combination comprising two audions aa grid, 0. plate and a cathode emitter.

a heater for each'emitter, an input circuit for veachfiaudion includingits gridand emitter, an 3 output circuit for each audion including itsplate and emitter, means for coupling said audions to form' acascadeampliiler, Theaters for energizing them connections to said withdirect or alternating current.- means to provide full'wave Vrectification for alternating current operation andcontinuousconductivity for direct current aomm operation hetween the heaters andcathode emitters of said audions,

andconnectionsfromsaidmeanstosaidgridsto impress operating potentials onsaid grids for either direct or alternating current operation. 5 20. Ina circuit as disclosed foramplifying and a rectifying currents thecombination comprisins an audion having a grid. a plate and a cathode;an input circuit includingsaid grid and cathode,

an output circuit including said plate and catha heater for saidcathode, connections to for energizing it with" direct or a1- audion. 20

